FARMERS TAKE FOOD ANSWERS DIRECT TO BUSY MOMS

JUNE 2018

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In a new national video series launched today, CommonGround farmer volunteers head to the city to help local moms tackle their busy lives and answer the food questions that nag so many parents.

“We get it. We’re moms too. There’s just not time to sort everything out. There’s too much information,” said CommonGround volunteer and mom Kristin Reese from Baltimore, Ohio. “Spending time with these moms - carpooling, grocery shopping, running errands - helped us learn more about how they make their food choices and gave them access to real time answers about food in their daily lives.”

Three CommonGround volunteer farmers from rural communities took to the towns and cities. While these moms’ lifestyles and scenery may differ, they have more in common than not.

“At the end of the day we all just want to stay on top of the crazy to-do list and take care of our families, stressing about food doesn’t fit into that mix. We are all overwhelmed,” said Bekah Gustafson from Dresser, Wisconsin. “Standing in the milk aisle with a mom who has no agriculture context, it’s easy to understand why.”

“This platform provided the opportunity to have a real conversation about food, where it originates, how it makes its way to their table and what that all might mean for their families,” said Kyla Hamilton from Lubbock, Texas.

The Carpool video series, which can be found on the CommonGroundNow Facebook Page, is part of the farmer-led, grassroots-focused CommonGround program. CommonGround brings together a group of female farmers for conversations about the food they grow and how they produce it. They share personal experiences, as well as science and research, to help customers sort through the myths and misinformation surrounding food and farming.

More than 200 women farmers volunteer to participate in conversations with consumers. The program has brought answers to consumers in all 50 states, having more than a billion touch points over the past eight years. A past campaign included an “Ask a Farmer” button in a grocery store aisle. Activating the button brought a live farmer volunteer right to the store, surprising and delighting the customers.

The National Corn Growers Association, along with state corn and soybean associations, support the CommonGround program and enable conversations across the country on food issues through online efforts, media interviews and in-person events.